Saturday, January 5, 2013

We Three Kings Arrive to Astorga

Tonight the Magi, the Three Kings came to town! Lines of children with their families waited to go to see them in person, and whisper their greatest wishes in their ears.

In Spain, Christmas festivities don't end until Epiphany, or Day
of the Three Kings, January 6th, who according to the Biblical account brought
gifts to the Christ Child. It's the highlight of the Christmas holiday, for the children, at least,

The Christmas season and decorations begin with the Nativity. There is no squabble about Nativity scenes being placed in public places. Just the opposite, in fact. You see different Nativity scenes in every storefront, parks, the town hall and as the center piece in every home, but minus baby Jesus in the manger, of course. Then, magically, on December 25th baby Jesus appears in all of the mangers throughout the land.

In the States folks are now taking down the lights and
trees, packing up their decorations with a sigh and putting everything away for
another year.

Here, however, the Three Kings will pass through town tonight on their camels with gifts for all who have been good
this year.

Over two thousand years ago they followed a star and travelled to worship
Christ, newly born in a manger, with myrhh, incense and gold. Now, they venture
here to leave presents in the childrens' shoes rather than their stockings.
It;s rumored that if the children have misbehaved they will find a lump of coal instead - *hint* - black rock candy "coal" can
be found in the grocery stores that comes in a burlap bag tied with ribbon and
marked COAL, but fortunately, all the children are very good, and the Kings very benevolent and they always leave something wonderful for the children.

It's a beautiful tradition and the morning of the Three Kings begins with the "roscón" for breakfast, making everyone feel like a king, especially he who finds the little figurine tucked inside the pastry and gets to wear the crown.